To obtain the correct total file size, please review the size specs on the specific product page, which are found under Design Guidelines. There you will also find templates to use and helpful tips for setting up bleed, safe lines, and trim lines for every product and custom size.
For most customers, this alert won't affect your final product. Here's what you need to know:
Who can ignore this alert:
Who should pay attention:
What's happening technically:
Your uploaded file has slightly different proportions than our product dimensions. This means we may need to add small amounts of white space to make your design fit properly. Think of it like fitting a rectangular photo into a square frame - there might be small white borders.
Bottom line:
Simply review your proof. If you're happy with how it looks, you're good to go! The proof shows exactly how your final product will appear. If you notice unwanted white edges or spacing issues, then you may want to adjust your file.
Need help? We've got you covered!
If you can't figure it out, we're here to help! Just go to your cart page and add our design service to this item. Our team will take care of everything for you - no stress, no hassle!
We highly recommend using Adobe Illustrator to save your final print file in .svg, .eps, .ai, or .pdf format, at Acrobat PDF 1.5 version. This format will ensure that your graphics are sent to us in their original resolutions with all fonts and outlines that are necessary to print your work in the best quality possible. Transparent or no background is preferred for most products, except for Lettering products.
Not all PDFs are equal — the source matters. A PDF is only as print-ready as the program that created it. The .pdf extension doesn't guarantee print quality — what matters is the source application that exported it.
Every PDF stores metadata identifying which program produced it (the "Producer" field). When we open your file, we can usually see its origin, and that origin explains most of the issues we encounter on press.
Best PDFs for Printing:
PDFs exported directly from Adobe Illustrator (or comparable professional vector software). These keep your artwork as true vector data with properly embedded fonts and outlines.
PDFs to Use With Caution:
PDFs from Figma, Canva, or the Acrobat PDFMaker plug-in in Microsoft Word/Office. These tools are built for screen, not print, and we regularly see problems such as:
PDFs to Avoid:
"PDFs" that are really screen exports, screenshots, or rasterized images saved with a .pdf extension. They carry no usable print data even though the file opens as a PDF.
How Do I Make a Canva or Figma File Print-Ready?
If you can only design in one of these tools, open the exported PDF in Adobe Illustrator, confirm the artwork looks correct, and re-save it as a print-ready PDF before submitting.
How Can I Check Where My PDF Came From?
Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat and go to File → Properties. The Producer and Application fields show which program created the file — a quick way to confirm it's print-ready before you send it.
To create the file for single color lettering or etched glass, create a background using a spot color named "BKGD." For White lettering, set the background color to grey for PDF visibility.
This will be removed when replacing the color you selected on the product page.
Ensure cut lines are 1pt (.0156”) strokes with the spot color named “LETTERING”.
To create the file for decals with exact cut, cut lines should be 1pt (.0156”) strokes with the spot color named “EXACTCUT”.
For custom shape cuts, we recommend using the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator to draw a path around your shape. This line should follow the contours/angles of the object.
To create the file for custom shapes and standard shapes, cut lines should be 1pt (.0156”) strokes with the spot color named “SHAPECUT”.
If you're unable to use Adobe Illustrator, you can use our Design Studio tool to create your custom or standard shapes.
Vector-based PDFs without backgrounds are recommended. In the Design Studio and on the proof page, we will replace the transparent area with clear/ brush silver / brush gold to match the product you have selected.
If the proof shows a white background, it comes from your original file. Please fix it and re-upload.
Your cut line must be a stroke, not a filled path, compound path, or shape. Our automated cutting system specifically reads strokes with the spot color "ExactCut" to generate cutting instructions.
For precise control over your cut path, follow these requirements:
What TO DO:
What NOT TO DO: Do not use Effects(fx):
Do not use compound stokes:
Do not use non-standard path types:
If you are uploading an image or photo, please use the largest file size with the highest resolution possible.
After you upload the file to our site, we will be able to display your resolution in PPI count. In general, 300 PPI is recommended, and below 100 PPI will be flagged as low resolution.
For outdoor signs, lower than 100 PPI is acceptable, since most of your audience will look at the signs from far distances.
Most customers: Upload your RGB files as-is! Our system automatically converts to CMYK for printing.
Professional designers: For best results, submit designs in CMYK color mode with all images pre-converted to CMYK before placement.
If you want to use custom fonts and cannot embed, you can convert your fonts to outlines or select new fonts in our Design Studio. Custom fonts that were not embedded will be converted to our default font Arial and displayed in your proof.
To check whether all fonts have been correctly embedded, view the font export settings in Adobe Acrobat.